Founder Profile

Pew is an independent nonprofit organization – the sole beneficiary of seven individual trusts established between 1948 and 1979 by four generous and committed siblings. Learn more about one of our founders: Mary Ethel Pew.

After nine months of deadlock, a budget standoff in Pennsylvania has come to an end. Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf said he will allow the Republican-proposed, $30 billion budget to become law without his signature.

The General Assembly passed and Republican Gov. Pat McCrory signed a bill that would prevent North Carolina cities and counties from passing nondiscrimination ordinances and from opening bathrooms for people to use based on the gender with which they identify.

The South Carolina Senate passed a bill that would require refugees to register with the state and hold their sponsors liable if they commit an act of terror or violent crime. The bill moves to the House.

The deal, between Republican Gov. Matt Bevin and House Democrats, will allow license applicants to identify themselves as bride, groom or spouse and will not require a county clerk’s signature. It follows a controversy that erupted last summer when a Kentucky county clerk refused to issue licenses to same-sex couples.

The bill will put about $230 million in new money into improving Indiana’s highways and bridges over the next two years. It’s short of the $1 billion that Republican Gov. Mike Pence sought, but it doesn’t include an election-year increase in cigarette and gasoline taxes proposed as a longer-term way to increase funding.

Republican Governor Rick Scott has approved a new Florida law to require crime labs to test rape kits faster and another that allows the University of Miami to gives out free, clean needles and syringes in exchange for used ones.